Guardians by Kim Susan & Klavan Laurence

Author:Kim, Susan & Klavan, Laurence [Kim, Susan & Klavan, Laurence]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Suspense, Romance
ISBN: 9780062118592
Amazon: 0062118595
Goodreads: 22608073
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: 2015-03-24T07:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

A BOY STOOD BEFORE ESTHER. HIS NAME WAS NOAH, AND IN HIS SWEATY palm he held out a single object. The others who had been learning how to read were already on their way out the door, talking and laughing.

Noah was heavier than the others, big for his age, which was about twelve. He had had a brief stay in the sick rooms with an injured ankle; then he had started coming to Esther’s classes.

From the beginning, Noah struggled to learn. In fact, his stumbling and halting attempts reminded Esther of herself. Today, she had helped him sound out and write the letters of his own name for the first time. She had seen his eyes brighten with pride and a smile of discovery sweep across his face.

For this, he was now offering a piece of glass.

Esther had always made it clear she didn’t want anything in return. “Please,” she told him now. “I said no.”

The boy didn’t move, only looked at Esther with a furrowed brow.

“But,” he said, “you deserve it.”

“And I told you,” Esther said, her patience ebbing, “that’s not the point of this.”

Noah put the glass piece back into his pocket. Still, he didn’t leave. Then, to her shock, he sank to the floor and threw himself at her feet.

“Thank you.” His voice was muffled. “Thank you.”

For a fleeting moment of pure confusion, Esther thought he was sick. Then as the boy clung to her calves, she became flustered and appalled. Trying to keep her temper, she reached down and unwrapped his fingers from around her legs. With an effort, she pulled him upright again.

“That’s enough,” she said, her face flushed.

Noah looked at her, truly baffled. She knew that the boy was slow compared to the others. But what he said now astounded her.

“But that how we thank Saith.”

Although Esther said nothing, her mind was whirling. “All right,” she said in an even voice. “But that’s not how we do things up here.” As the words sank in, Noah glared at her with resentment.

After the boy had left, Esther let out a long breath, surprised at how unnerved the encounter had made her.

Since Saith had disappeared, Esther had heard many speak of the younger girl with awe and reverence. That alone was disturbing. But what bothered Esther most of all was that as a result, fewer people were coming to the ninth floor: The little girl claimed to alleviate their ailments by a simple touch. Even Noah had not waited for his ankle to heal and had opted for Saith’s approach instead.

This worried her. The more Esther read and the more she spoke with Joseph and Uri, the more she was convinced that the only things that cured illness and injury were rest and knowledge, not superstition and magic. She had also heard of predictions the girl had made, performances she gave, and devotions she encouraged. Yet Esther suspected that real prayer was a personal matter, a private dialogue between one’s soul and a greater power.

The young girl was clearly working with Gideon now—that much was certain.

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